Transfer applying device for glass, ceramic, and other ware



5 23, 3954 ALDRIDGE 2,669,796

TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Filed April 6, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet l A E, 7/ 'L/ 7 11 IF i I II? R 1 i 760 4 Iii I [nuenibr KENNETH. G. ALDE/DGE.

Attorneys Feb. 23, 1954 K. G. ALDRIDGE 2,669,796

TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Filed April 6, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 156 4/ 141:} I40 -1/6 M2 J 749" o O 7% 70.9 o c CI 7/0 41/5 m [N w /r\ \l/ O 101 2 a a I E 62 7'67 I Inventor. KEN/V6771 6. ALB/006E perm M Feb. 23, 1954 K, ALD|DGE 2,669,796

TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Filed April 6, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 mag 46 2 a 155 55 159 i o o J 21 755 757 l 4% 42a 156 V 1/ I///% i Lin 1 I ,/5/ 57-a [n/venlbr KEN/VET! G. ALDF/DGE Attornqys.

Feb. 23, 1954 K. G. ALDRIDGE TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE 1O Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 6 1951 Attorneys Feb. 23, 1954 ALDRlDGE 2,669,796

TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Filed April 6, 1951 1o Shets-Sheet 5 46-- T T 49 s I ;,55 s 4 I v 474 5 1 554 [nae/1602' KEN/v57 G. Awe/06E Attorneys.

Feb. 23, 1954 K. G. ALDRIDGE TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE 10 Sheet s-Sheet 6 Filed April 6, 1951 [nvenl'or KEN/V5772 6. ALDk/DGE Attorne .s.

Feb. 23, 1954 K. G. 'ALDRIDGE TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, vAND OTHER WARE 1O Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 6, 1951 Inventor KEN/V6771 6. Awe/06 E Afiwrneyfi.

b 23, 9 K. 3. ALDRIDGE 2,569,796

TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Filed April 6, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 FA /G 9. A??? A /D [nvenl'or KENNETH 6. ALOE/DGE -M M 140 Attorney:

K. G. ALDRIDGE Feb. 23, 1954 TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE 1O Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 6, 1951 M0 9 w K .m w o mm 2 5 4 5 5 6 M m b 6 I f. m O 7 m 7 W 6 W 'a m a m I W 6 lm/erdbr KENNETH 6 A4 019/065 Feb. 23, 1954 K. G. ALDRIDGE 2,669,796

TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Filed April 6, 1951 1o Sheets-Sheet 10 a 2 1 1412-- Zsa 1 20 12 758 I 55.. 0 2 36712.? M

gm w Patented Feb. 23, 1954 TRANSFER APPLYING DEVICE FOR GLASS, CERAMIC, AND OTHER WARE Kenneth Godfrey Aldridge, London, England, as-

signor to Johnson, Matthey 85 Company Limited, London, England, a British company Application April 6, 1951, Serial No. 219,7 l3

Claims priority,.application Great Britain April 21, 1950 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in and relating to the decoration of glassware, ceramic ware or other ware by means of transfers.

A transfer for application to gle.ss-, ceramicor other ware normally consists of a summed paper backing, the gumrned side of which carries a transparent film of collodion, cellulose acetate or similar substance onto which the design or other decoration to be transferred is applied.

The application of such a transfer to an article, to be decorated by the design or decoration, is usually effected by a hand operation. For this purpose the transfer is first wetted to soften the interlayer of gum, whereupon the collodion or other film carrying the design is detached by hand from the paper backing and slid on to the article, which is subsequently fired to burn away the organic matter and leave the design firmly adhering to the article.

Such a method of procedure is obviously slow and renders the decoration of relatively cheap articles, such as milk or beer bottles, in large numbers an expensive operation. Consequently, the decoration of such articles with names, trademarks or labels by meansof transfers, has not In order to overcome these disadvantages, it has already been proposed to provide mechanical means for applying transfers to bottles and the like comprising a continuously or intermittently horizontall movable conveyor belt on to which the transfers are placed at spaced intervals by an operator so as to pass successively wetting means for the transfer, comprising vertically reciprocable suitably supplied with heated Water, a backing remover comprising a vertically reciprocable and laterally displaceable Wiper pad and a ware-support-station located above the belt near the rear end of the belt run, the conveyor belt being periodically raised so as to cause a transfer thereon to contact the ware, e. a milk bottle, and to wind itself around the bottle.

The movement of the various mechanisms is effected by means of pressure fluid-actuated pietons operated in required sequence by the depression of a foot-pedal by asecond operator iii) 2 who also places the bottles in, and removes them from, the ware support.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for automatically applying transfers to glass, ceramic or other ware, which is of simple construction and occupies a comparatively small space.

Another object is to provide an apparatus which requires the attention of only a single operator.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus enabling the continuous application of transfers to milk bottles, beer bottles or other articles, which will remain in operation provided an article to be decorated is in position therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which transfers automatically fed to an intermittently rotatable drum, which carries the said transfers progressively to a position whereat the transfer backing paper is automatically removed and then to a position whereat the transfer is automatically transferred to an article to be decorated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention broadly comprises an apparatus for applying transfers to glass-, ceramicor other ware, comprising essentially a rotatable drum or the like having means on the periphery thereof adapted to retain a transfer thereon, automatic transfer feed mechanism associated with said drum, automatic backing removing mechanism and releasable ware supporting means. also associated with said drum, said transfer feed mechanism, backing-removing mechanism and were supportirn means being located at spaced posi tions around the periphery of said drum, and means for rotating said drum and for actuating said ware supporting, transfer feed and transfer baclnng-removing mechanisms in required sequence.

The features of the invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of illu trative example, and not in any way as limitative, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevation of :a transfer applying machine embodying the features of the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view to a larger scale of part of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a part sectional end View of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1, the lower portion of the frame being cut away,

Figure 4 is a front view, drawn to a larger scale than Figure l, of the ware supporting means shown in that figure,

Figure 5 is a side View of Figure 4, showing also the operating mechanism therefor,

Figure 6 is a plan view, also drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1, of the transfer backing removing mechanism shown in Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a section, also drawn to a larger scale than Figure l, of the transfer feed mechanism, the section being taken on the line VII-VII of Figure Figures 13, the apparatus comprises essentially a frame work indicated generally by the refer ence numeral i, consisting of a base 2, opposed lateral sides a horizontal top portion i and opposed longitudinal sides 5, only one of which is shown in Figure l. The top portion ii is formed with a slot la located slightly to one side of the longitudinal centre line thereof and extending over substantially 5; of the length of the said top 4 from the point 6 adjacent one end thereof to the point E. On the top portion 4 are mounted, intermediate the ends of the slot la, and one on either side of the said slot, a pair of opposed upstanding bearings B (only one of which is shown in the drawings) in which is rotatably mounted a shaft ii, carrying a drum iii, the peripheral surface of which is covered with a layer of resilient rubber ll. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drum it extends through the slot into the interior of the framework i, the exposed portion thereof being covered by a hood l2 bolted to the top t of the frame i, as indicated at it, Figure 1. In Figure l the left hand portion of the hood 12 has been cut away for the sake of clarity and only one bolt it is consequently visible.

On a support it, mounted on the base 2, is

carried a transfer wetting bath l5 and the base 2 also carries an electric motor l5, driven from a suitable source of current supply, not shown.

Around the periphery of the drum in are located at spaced positions therearound, a waresupporting device and a transfer-backing removing mechanism, indicated generally in Figures 1 and 2 by the reference letters A and B respectively. Mounted on the top portion 4 of the frame i at the end thereof beyond the end 1 of the slot to is a transfer feed mechanism indicated generally by the reference letter C (Figures l3) and above this mechanism is carried a transfercarrying magazine indicated generally in Fig ures 1-3 by the reference letter D.

A cam shaft it, Figure 3, carrying a plurality of cams for actuating the above mentioned mechanisms A, B, C and D is rotatably mounted in three spaced bearings it; carried by a lateral side 3 of the frame 1 beneath the top l.

l fixed to the adjacent side 5-! of the frame I.

Ware-supporting device "A and associated mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, 2! and 22 are a pair of pedestals bolted to, so as to extend upwardly from, the top portion 4 of the frame I, one located on each side of the slot 3a adjacent the end i thereof. The pedestals 2i and 22 are each provided with a pair of spaced laterally projecting extensions 23, it and 25, 26 respectively; the upper extensions 23 and 25 project beyond the periphery of the drum ill and form supporting bearings for a rod 2? to which are fixed spaced arms 28, the outer ends of which carry a rod 29 on which are rotatably and fixed- 1y slidably mounted a pair of bottle or other ware clamping wheels 33.

The rod 2i extends outwardly of the bearing 25 and to the free end E'ia thereof is fixed one end of an arm 3! (Figure 5), to the other end of which is pivoted the upper end 32 of a downwardly extending lever 33, the lower end 3c of which is pivoted to one end of a cranked arm 35, the other end of which is pivoted to a bracket 36 Intermediate the ends of the arm is mounted a roller 3? which engages the periphery of a cam 38 (see also Figure 3), fixedly mounted on the aforesaid cam shaft ll.

To each of the lower bearings 24 and 26 is pivoted one end of an arm 39 and it respectively, the outer ends of which arms carry a rod l! on which is mounted. a roller 42. As will be described hereafter, the wheels 250 and the roller 42 cooperate to support and releasably clamp an article to be decorated, such as a beer bottle as indicated in dotted lines at 4?; in Figures 1, 2 and 5.

Transfer backing removing mechanism B The transfer backing removing mechanism B is pivotally mounted on the upper ends 4-; and Q5 of the aforesaid pedestals 2i and 22 so as normally to lie immediately over the periphery of the drum it.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 6, it will be seen that this mechanism consists of a rod it carried by the said ends "it and d5 of the pedestals 2i and 22 so as to extend transversely of the drum ill and projecting laterally of the pedestal On this rod 46 between the said pedestals 2i and 22 is pivotally mounted a sleeve 4'! forming a lateral extension of a rectangular frame ,8 which lies over the drum ill to one side of the rod 48 and is counterbalanced by a counterbalance weight it.

Extending rearwardly of the frame 48 are a pair of guides 56 connected at their outer ends by a transverse bar 55, on which guides is slidably mounted a carriage 52, on the underside of which is carried a roller 53.

The frame as is formed, on the upper side thereof, with a tubular portion in the bore of which is slidable a rod secured at one end thereof to the carriage 52 and having at the e er: sad a ead n o sm en a ter than the internal diameter of the tube 54,-.a compression spring 55a being housed in: the said bore o as to surround the rods55.

;-'Ihe carriage 52 and roller 53' are normally located beneath, the frame 48 so as tolie over,

and a pulley 68 carried by the underside of the topportion i of the frame I and is secured at its other end, see. F7igures l, 2 and 10, to one arm of a double-armed lever liI pivoted at 62 to the rearside 5 of the frame I, the other arm of which lever 6! is connected by an adjustable coupling to one arm at of a bell-crank lever, pivoted at 6,5 to the frame side 5, the other arm 66 of which carries a roller 67 engaging the periphery of a cam 68 mounted on the outer end of the cam shaft I1 (Figure 3), As will be appreciated, rotation of the cam I58 will cause the periodic sliding of the carriage 52 and roller 53 transversely of the drum is against the action of the spring 55a.

, As previously pointed out the backing remover B is pivoted to the pedestals El and 22 at 44, 45 and is swingable around its pivot for the purpose of raising the roller 53 slightly above the surface of the drum I0 when the carriage 52 is in the retracted position to allow of its return to normal position. before reengaging the drum II).

For this purpose, there is pivoted to the frame 4.8 at 69 one end of a depending rod in, the other end of which is pivoted to one arm II of a bellcrank lever pivoted at l2 to the underside of the top frame portion 4, the other arm 13 of the lever Transfer feed mechanism C Referring now more particularly to Figures 7 and 8, the transfer feed mechanism is shown to consist of a rectangular open-ended casing "I9 (shown in elevation in Figures 1--3), which is boltedto the upper sideof the top portion 4 of the frame I at the part thereof which extends beyond the end 7 of the slot 4a formedin the said top. The top of the casing is formed with two opposed externally extending flanges 19a and 19b.

Mounted in an inwardly extending bearing bracketed integral with the casing 19 is a bushing 8| in, which'is slidably mounted the upper end of a vertically extending rod 82, the lower end of which is carried in a boss 83 having a lateral projection or pin 84 thereon slidably engaging a guideway 85 formed in an insert guide block secured to thewall of the casing I9 by a bolt Elia. A coil spring 8'! surrounds the rod 82 and abuts against the bushing til and the boss 83 at its upper and lower ends respectively.

The rod82 and boss 83 extend through an aperture 83 formed in the top portion 4 of the frame l, the under side of the said boss I33 engaging the upper end of 'annperating .rod 83 slidably mount ed in a yoke 9i secured to the underside. of the top, land. embracing the aperture 88. The rod car e at i s le r-end-aoller 1 maintaine in constant engagement with a cane QZ-mounted "OIL the: cam shaft H (see also Figure 3) whereby sleeve 9!} formed with a radial passagewayefi communicating at one end with the bore" of the tube 9'4 "and ati'the other end with an I annular passageway 81 formed in the boss 83, which p /S- sageway 9? is in communicationwith a'=pas- "sageway 98; "The sleeve 93 is reta ned in position bya circular closing plate 99'secured to the sleeve 32 by bolts-m0; A lnipple 99o adapted for con- .nection to a suction pump (notshown) is bolted to the plate 39. g

The plate 98 is providedwith a depending pro- -jection lliI'withwhicHengages a roller lllz carriedat theouter end of one" arm m3 of aliencrank lever pivoted at IM to a bracket 105 carried by the frame I, and the other arm I 05' of "which carries a roller lfil wh ch engage's and 'ri'des over the surface of acam' l ntmounted onthe cam shaft ll. Orithe rotation of theoam lfl8 'by the cam shaft lithe-suction pad is tilted in the direction of the drum I!!! The p'Iate' BB is provided with two opposite segmentalslotsflilh through which the said bolts IBG -pasairrorder to enable thepos tion' ofthe projection IN to be adjusted as desired with-respect to the roller 82 for the purpose of varying the amountof sion spring 95d secured to' the tub'e 9 and the inner wall ofthecasi'ng 19is provided"for're turning the suction pad 95 andtube'wl to their normal position.

' Extending laterally from "opposite ends of the casing 19 on the side thereof facing the F drum l0 are two pairs or boss-like*projections -I llfl and. I It), the upper pair I 09 forming-bearings in which are carriedrods Iota, urged outwardly-in the direction of the drum lfl by means of' springs I991), only one of which is'shown in Figure 9. The outer ends of the rods IIBBa 1 form bearings for a transfer feed roller I I I, which isc'onstantly urged into contact with "the periphery 015 the drum IIl' under theactionof the aforesaid springs IIJSbJ' The roller I I I isformed of rubber orother composition having a resiliency less than that of the rubber layer I I of the "drum 10.

Above the rol'le'r I I I ismo'unted asmal-ler"roller II2 carried by the outer 'ends of 'arins'II3,'the other "ends or whioh-arepivoted to the casing I9 at I'I L' "The roller is maintainedin' contact with the feed roller I I I, which is so located that the bitebetween the two rollers iii and I I2 lies in the path-of tilting-movement of the suction pad-flfi jwhereby, as will appear herafter, a transfer carried'by the 'padf95 will-be fed between the said'rol'lersi II and H2 andbythem onto the drum "I0.

The lower pair of projections Hi3 similarly carry rods use (only one of which is shown in Figure 8), the outer ends of which form bean ings for aisqueegee-rollerl i5,'similar to thfe'roller i it. and likewise. spring pressed into engageme t with the-periphery of the drum 10-.

- Ref neee to re 1 nd 2 reg esents a waterbath 'mounted on a lateral extension of the casing 19 in which is freely rotatably mounted a drumavetting roller II'I, which is maintained in contact with, and is driven by, the drum Iii. By this means on rotation of the drum Ill, water contained in the bath H6 will be transferred to the surface of the drum for the purpose of moistening the said surface prior to the application thereto of a transfer as hereinafter described.

Transfer wetting bath The transfer wetting bath I consists of a container or vessel I118 (Figure 1) and carries freely rotatably mounted therein four rollers I III, which project above the upper edge of the vessel I I8 and are spring loaded, in any suitable manner not shown in the drawing, into contact with the periphery of the drum It, so as to be rotated thereby. The vessel H3 is kept supplied with water from a suitable source through a feed pipe I 20 so as to maintain the water level constant.

Transfer carrying magazine D Referring now to Figures 3 and 9, and more particularly to Figure 9, the transfer carrying magazine D is composed of four elongated L- shaped strips I2I, I22, I23 and Hit, the strips I2 I, I22 and I24 being formed at their lower ends with laterally extending feet I2 Ia, I22a and I2la on which the said strips are supported on the top of the casing 19, so as to extend vertically upwards therefrom. The strips i2I and I22 are mounted on the said flange file by means of bolts I2Ib and I222; respectively, the bolt I222) being fixed and the bolt me being slidable in a slot I2Ic formed in the flange 19a.

Fixed to the strips HI and I22 respectively adjacent the lower ends thereof, are two rods I and I2, which extend parallel to one another along opposite sides of the magazine and project through slots I21? and I28 formed in the strips I23 and I24 respectively, the projecting ends I25a and I26a fitting into tubular sleeve members I29 and I3II respectively, each of which is formed with a transverse hole for the reception of a bolt I3I and I32. The bolt lei is slidable in a slot I33 formed in the flange 7% of the casing I9 and the bolt I32 is fixed to the said flange.

The strips I2I, l22, I23 and I24 are mutually interconnected by four lazy tongs devices I24, each of which consists of a pair of crossed-over struts I35 and I35 (see figures 1-3) pivoted together at It' l, and pivoted-at their upper ends I38 and I39 each to one of said strips, for example the strips I23 and I24 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or the strips I2I and I23 as shown in Figure 3. The lower ends I46 and MI of the struts are slidable in elongated slots I42 and I43 formed in the said strips 524 and I23 respectively or I23 and IZI respectively as the case may be.

Locking screws IM- are provided for locking the struts in any required relative position.

By means of the above construction, the size of the transfer magazine D, that is to say, the area of the space defined by the strips IZI, I22, I23 and, I24 may be increased or decreased as desired. By releasing the bolts I2Ib and ISI and the pertaining locking screws IM, the strips IN and I23 may be moved in the slots I 2Ic and I33 towards and away from the other strips I22 and I2 1, whilst by releasing the other opposed pair of locking screws M2, the strips I23 and I24 may be moved on the rods I25 and we towards and away from the strips I2I and I22. The size of the magazine may thus be varied in one or other of two directions or in both said directions simultaneously.

The rods I25 and I26 form, as clearly shown in Figure 8, supports for a pile of transfers I45 within the magazine. In order to ensure ready with drawal of successive transfers by the suction pad 95, as hereinafter described, it has been found desirable to provide spacing members I46, between the edges of the transfers and the inner faces of the strips I2 I I24, which spacing members rest on the rods I25 and I26.

Drum operating mechanism Referring now to Figures 1-3, the drum. It is intermittently rotated by means of a ratchet wheel t ll mounted on the shaft 9 and fast with the said drum Id. The ratchet wheel I I-I provided with twelve teeth M8, with which engages a pawl M2 pivoted to a crank arm liiIl swingably mounted on the shaft II. To the free end of the crank arm lei: is pivoted one end of a rod Ilii, the other end of which is pivoted to a crank disc i552 adjacent the periphery thereof, which disc I52 is mounted on one end of the aforesaid cam shaft I i. Each complete rotation of the cam shaft I? thus oscillates the crank arm I5ii to cause the pawl Me to engage a tooth I 52 on the ratchet wheel Ml thereby rotating the drum Ill through part of a complete rotation, and then become disengaged therefrom. As there are twelve teeth on the ratchet wheel Ml, twelve complete rotations of the cam shaft are r quired to effect one complete rotation of the drum Iii.

For the purpose of locking the drum to in each ntermediate stationary position thereof, a two-armed or bell-crank lever I 55-, is pivoted to the aforesaid bracket I2 carried on the underside of the frame top portion A (see ure 11). One arm of this lever is provided at free end with a pin adapted to engage any one of twelve uniformly spaced slots formed in the interior peripheral surface of drum id, whilst the other arm carries at its free end a roller I57 which engages and rides over a cam I58 mounted on the cam shaft It.

Cam shaft drive and associated mechanism Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 10, the cam shaft Il, as previously mentioned, is driven by the drive shaft II? from the electric motor I6.

This is effected by means of an endless belt Hit, which passes over a pulley i357 carried by the motor shaft and a pulley IGI mounted on the inner end or" the drive shaft- It.

The shaft i9 is mounted in a tubular sleeve or casing I52 from which project adjacent one end and laterally on either side thereof extension members and le i by means of which the sleeve N32 is supported by pins IJEi between the side arms I and of a yoke member IGS, having a central upwardly extending arm it, which is secured to the underside of the frame top t.

' ihe drive shaft It carries, at end thereof opposite to that carrying the pulley IQI, a worm H8, which is adapted to mesh with a worm Wheel I'II mounted on the cam shaft I7. The said worm-wheel IN is rotatably mounted on the cam shaft I7 and is coupled thereto through the medium of friction clutch I72 fast on the said cam shaft. Integral with the clutch IE2 is a disc I'It having a peripheral slot It? therein (see Figure 10).

Pivoted to the yoke itil at I15, above the drive j A i l shaft 19, is an arm fnt which extents overrule aforesaid clise H3 and is provided acljaeent its outer end'with "a depending projectien or pin it! adapted to engage the slot Ht when the latter is rotated to its uppermost position neath'the said pin I 6?.

Pivote'ci. to enclsthere is one end of a lever H8 whioh exten'cls upwardly and is tonne-nee atits upper end we to one lialof a belt-crank lever I80, 18E (Figure "3), pivoted to upstanding bracket I32 secured to the name top other arm 'l8l "of the bellcraniplete upwardly atan angle of 94150111145 to zontal and is formed wane verticalenii pbr en IBl'a terminating at a point lying between to the'rear of the rollers '39 ans ii? of the weresupportingdev'ice A.

The jup'per end of this at carrie a later ally extending screwed rod on the outerenfl of which is mounted a disc its which'is engaged hya bottle 13 inesrteci into 'the war e supfiort'ing device" A. "When; thereis nohojttle in the device A, theb'ell-'oranlz lever meats: takes up si n a positionthat the disc ifl i lies within thespaee to be occupied bi a bottle when inserted and the pin lffl i will fall "into th'eTslot i7 3 when the lat ter is in it's"upperiiiostposition. l

A bracket I85, Figure 10, upstandingfro'in the sleeve "[62 has pivoteatner' ts a its set arry connectleil to the arm mg a tension spring" v H5. Movement or arm il ii around its pivot I15 thus causes a Silfiilah eisvemejnt of the drive shaft l9,aroun'cl its pivot pin M550 that when the IT? is ill hgligifiht with slot Im the/worm me is moved downwardly out or en gagemeht with t'he WOlffi HI and the Cam shaft n is'held stationary." n V when a bottle '43 isjinserted in position in the supporting d'vice Af, itv c'oines into contact with the disc 84' and moves'it rearwarcliy thereby swinging the bell-crank [83, i8! around its pivot I82 to swing the arm iiifl thereof upwardly thereby raising the pin ll? out of Contact with the' slot m and simultaneously raising the worm noiimo engagement was the worn when m to couple the cam shaft l'i drivihglfi with the drive shaft 19. I p g A I p v Figures l2a' to l2f show; the cams E2, 38, i8,

I58, 92 and. I88 in their la'tive positions of r0 ease-when th f apparatusis' stationary, that is to say, when the pin Il'i'is' in engagement with theslot l'i i in the disc n3, thewerm new (118- engaged froth the worm wheel land the drum retaining" 1911! i555 is in en agement with one or other of the SIDES [56 in the drum I'U.

Opeidtz'oh The above described apparatus functions in the followingmanner a with the'clrive shaft I 9 stationary, the ijll lowered -0ut of; engagement with the worm wheel Ill andthepin it! in engagement with the slot I14; which is in its uppermost position, thero'll er 53 of the transfer backing remover B in its forward position over and ineontact with mediu ID, the clamping wheels- 30 their rai eqposi tio n the suction pad. 95 in its lowermost retracted. position, as shown in Figure 'Land the retaining pin A 1'55 in engagement 'with a site 1 t toi'jholci the; drum lg stationary. Let it 'also' be assumeqthat a pile of transfersME time been" placed in'the the said I it integmeemte the a it) magazine D, asshown in Figure'B, so as to reston the rods 125 and 52%, the size of. the magazine having p vidiisly been adjusted in the manner above desbbed "to accommodate the partioular size of transfer employed. a t

In thispo sition of the parts, the various hams on the snaftwiu e upy the relative rotative posmpnsshow mr'ig res 12 L42 A i 'IQfset the apparatus in motion/the motor [,5 is hrststartedso as tecause'rotation oi the drive shaft ifi. An amide to be decorates, in thiS illstanee beer bottle, is then inserted horizontally in position overthe squeegee roller 52 ancl'in contaet with the periphery of the drum l0 an dn is pressed ag and per-an thereby swinging the arms as, 33 em- 3! downwardly which causes the armflt carrying the clamping whens 30 to swing downwardly until the wheels at are" pressed into engagement with the bottle 43 and clamp it into position At the sarnetime the roller iiii Figure 12b, riseson the surface was er the caxnflfit to disengage the pin 55 from the slot Hit in Whieh it is engaged, thereby releasing the drum Ill. The olisc I52, on

the end of the camshaft W, has now been ro tated to actuate the rod :55 andraise thecranl; arm ifiil preparatory to causing th pawl Meta engage one of the teeth Hitch the ratehet wheel 2 M for the purpose of rotating the drum through th first stage of its'intermittent movement.

During this half rotation orthe cam shaft H the roller fii rides over the raised portion fiiia of the cam 68 (Figure 12d) to cause the lever fil to swing around its pivotfigand move the roller 53 of the transfer backing remover B trans versely over the drum Iii against the action of thespringtsa, a n

The earn 18, Fignre 12e, then acts to lift the roller 53 and maintains it in the raised position to meme it to be returned under the action of the spring 5511, when'thecain 68 becomes in'e'fiective and the roller is again lowered into contact withthe drum lii, A p i During this period the cam I08, Figure 121, acts to tilt the suction pad towards the drum ill;

in subsequent cycle's of operation the suction pad 95 will already have a transfer adhering to it and, this tilting action wil l c' aus e itto deliver the transfer between the biteof the rollers ii! and I12 and oi'itdthe'drum seamen at thisstage is" moving through its first stage of intermittent movement under me aotionof tnepawl we; M

surfac 92a of the saiclcangreachesits upper: mostposition, after the ca-in shaft t"! has com pletedhalf a revolutiohQthgptd cornes'into t s wi hthe;l Wsr s ;t e f 91111 6 211?. l lfifand causesthe lowermost transfer to adhere" to itself.

net the disc Hit, which is conse lf quently displaced to swing the bell-crank lever,

During this second half rotation of the cam shaft 11, the suction pad 95 is lowered with a transfer adhering thereto, and the intermittent movement of the drum i is completed.

During this movement of the drum E6, the bottle 43 is rotated, and towards the end of the movement, the clamping wheels 39 are raised to release the bottle 43. Th bottle is not, however, removed, as otherwise the worm Elf! would become disengaged from the worm wheel ill when the slot H4 in the disc I73 arrived beneath the pin ill.

As will be readily appreciated during the above described initial sequence of operations, the backing remover mechanism 13 has operated without actually removing a transfer backing, as no transfer was present beneath the roller 53.

Continued rotation of the cam shaft ll causes the above sequence of operations to b repeated for each revolution of the said shaft, a fresh transfer from the pile I45 being fed onto the drum 10 during each intermittent rotation thereof.

During this continued rotation, the transfers already deposited on the drum ii! are successively passed over the wetting rollers I H9 in the wetting bath until a stationary position of the drum I0 is reached at which the leading transfer is located immediately beneath the roller 53 of the backing-removing mechanism 13. On the actuation of this mechanism in the above described manner, the transverse movement of the roller 53 causes the backing, which lies in contact with the said roller, to be stripped off the transfer. The backing is then removed from the roller in any suitable manner, before the latter returns to its operating position prior to the next intermittent movement of the drum I0.

During the next intermittent movement of the drum H), the transfer from which the backing has been removed passes with the gummed surface now exposed beneath the rotating bottle 43. As the gummed surface of the transfer has a greater adhesion than that side thereof which is in contact with the drum NJ, the transfer will be caused to leave the drum and wind itself around the bottle 43. The bottle is now released, and is withdrawn by the operator. The pin I'll is thus allowed to fall into contact with the surface of the disc I73. As, however, at this stage the slot H 2 in the said disc I13 has not yet reached its initial position opposite the depending pin ill, the latter continues to ride over the surface of the disc. This time lag is suflicient to allow the operator to insert a fresh bottle in the ware-support, whereby the pin ll! is again raised and the apparatus continues in operation to cause the arrival beneath the bottle of the next succeeding transfer on the drum ID.

The apparatus, once started, may thus be continuously kept in operation, provided the operator removes a bottle as it is decorated and fin-- mediately replaces it by a fresh bottle. If, however, after removing a bottle, the operator does not insert a fresh bottle in place, the pin Ill will eventually drop into the slot l'M in the disc H3 with the consequent disengagement of the worm Hi! from the worm wheel H l The apparatus will thus be brought to a standstill, but the drive shaft l9 will continue to rotate.

It will be readily understood, from the above description, that once the drum if has completed one revolution, corresponding to twelve revolutions of the cam shaft l7, and the leading transfer has reached the ware-supporting mechanism iii A, each successive intermittent movement will cause a fresh transfer to be fed onto the drum it, a bottle to be decorated and a transfer to be wetted by passage over the wetting rollers H9. Also during each stationary period of the drum It, the backing is removed from the transfer immediately following the leading transfer.

The apparatus may in practice be satisfactorily run so as to decorate bottles at the rate of about 20 per minute.

Although in the above, one embodiment of the invention has been described by way of example, it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, other driving mechanism, such as a Geneva gear, may be employed for rotating the drum, and the expandible transfer-carrying magazine described may be replaced by one of a number of magazines of different sizes corresponding to different sizes of transfers used.

Furthermore, the cam shaft need not be driven by the drop-worm mechanism described, as any other suitable driving mechanism may be employed.

Again, instead of positively actuating the various mechanisms by means of cam actuated levers, fluid pressure operated means may, if desired, be provided.

Moreover, automatic means may be provided for inserting a bottle into, and removing it from, the ware-supporting mechanism.

It will be appreciated that by means of my invention, there is provided a simple compact apparatus, which enables transfers to be rapidly automatically applied with accuracy toglass and ceramic ware and which requires the attention of only a single operator, the output of decorated articles over a given period being far greater than would be possible by a single worker undertaking the operation by hand.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the

- combination with an intermittently rotatable transfer-receiving drum, automatically operable transfer backing-removing mechanism and releasable ware-supporting means assoiated with said drum and common operating means for actuating said drum, backing-removing mechanism and ware-supporting means in required sequence, of a transfer feed mechanism also associated with said drum, said mechanism comprising an axially movable and bodily tiltable hollow suction rod; a suction pad mounted at one end of said rod; means operable by said common operating means for causing said rod to approach and move away from a pile of transfers; means for applying suction to said pad when said rod is in its forward position to cause a transfer to adhere to said pad; and means for tilting said rod and suction pad towards said drum so as to deliver said transfer on to said drum and for returning said rod to its initial position.

2. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the subcombination of a frame; a transfer-receiving drum rotatably mounted in said frame; means for intermittently rotating said drum; a housing mounted in said frame adapted to hold a supply of transfers; a transfer feed mechanism carried by said frame beneath said housing and adjacent the periphery of said drum, said transfer feed mechanism including a reciprocable and tiltable suction device for withdrawing a transfer from greases 13 said supply and means for moving said transfer into contact with the periphery of said drum, and rheansfor reciprocating and tilting said suction device in required sequence during eachintermittent; movement of said drum.

3. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other Ware to be decorated, the sub-combination of a frame; an intermittently rotatable transfer mounted in said frame; a housing mounted on said frame adapted to hold; a supply of transfers; transfer feed mechanism carried by said frame beneath said housing, said mechanism comprising an axially movable and bodily tiltable tube; a suction pad mounted at one end of said tube; means for moving said tube towards and away from said housing; means for applying suction to saidpad whensaid tube is in its forward position to cause atransfer to adhere to said-pad; means for tilting said tube and suction pad towards said drum to deliver said transfer on to said drum and for returning said tube to its initial position and common operating means for intermittently rotating said drum and for actuating said tube as required during each movement of said drum.

4.. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other wars to be decorated, the subcombination of: a frame; a transfer-receiving drum rotatably mounted in said frame; transfer feed mechanism associated with said drum and transfer backing removing mechanism carried by said frame, said mechanism comprising a housing pivoted to the frame above said drum for movement in the plane of said drum; a carriage slidably mounted in said housing for movement transversely of said drum; a roller mounted in said carriage and normally urged into contact with said drum or a transfer located thereon; cam actuated mechanism for bodily displacing said carriage and said roller transversely of said drum; further cam-actuated mechanism for swinging said housing around its pivot to lift said roller out of contact with said drum and means for returning said carriage and said roller to their initial positions over said drum; mechanism for intermittently rotating said drum between successive operations of said cam-actuated mechanisms and common operating means for actuating said drum-rotating and transfer feed mechanisms in required sequence.

5. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the combination with a frame; an intermittently rotatable transfer receiving drum mounted in said frame; transfer feed mechanism associated with said drum; of an expandible transfer-carrying magazine mounted on said frame adjacent said transfer feed mechanism, said magazine comprising four L-shaped elongated strips arranged at the four corners of a rectangle and interconnected by four pairs of diagonally arranged struts pivoted at their ends to the said strips, and each pair of said struts being pivoted together intermediate their ends.

6. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the combination of a frame; a rotatable drum mounted in said frame; a driving shaft mounted in said frame; a Worm fixed on said driving shaft; a driven shaft mounted in said frame; a worm wheel on said driven shaft cooperable with said worm on said driving shaft; a support for ware to be decorated associated with said drum and ware-operated lever mechanism associated with receiving drum rotatably transfer thereon; automatic transfer feed mech anism associated with said drum; transfer backing-removing mechanism and releasable wiresupporting means also associated with said drum; said transfer feed mechanism, backing-removing mechanism and Ware-supporting means be:

ing located at spaced positions around the periphery of said drum; a pivoted housing carried by said frame; a main drivin shaft rotatably mounted in said housing; a gear on said shaft; means for continuously rotating said driving shaft; a camshaft associated said driving shaft; a second gear on said cam shaft; a p1u rality of cams mounted on said cam shaft; lever mechanism operatively connecting one of said cams to each said transfer feed mechanism, backing-removing mechanism and ware-supporting means; a ware operable movable stop associated with said ware support; and lever mechanism operatively connecting said stop to said pivoted driving shaft housing, the arrangement being such that on the insertion of the ware in the Ware support, said stop is moved by said ware to cause said gear on said driving shaft to engage said gear on said cam shaft thereby drivingly coupling said cam shaft to said driving shaft.

8. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the subcombination of: a frame; an intermittently rotatable transfer receiving drum rotatably mounted in said frame; a housing mounted on said frame adapted to hold a supply of transfers; transfer feed mechanism carried by said frame beneath said housing; said mechanism comprising an axially displaceable rod mounted in bearings on said frame; a compression spring surrounding said rod and located between said bearings; a tube pivotally mounted at one end on said rod; a suction pad carried by said tube at the other end thereof; means for applying suction to said pad; and means for axially displacing said rod and for tilting said tube around its pivot, said means comprising a cam shaft rotatably mounted in said frame; a first cam on said cam shaft; a projection on said tube engaging the periphery of sa d cam; a second cam on said cam shaft; a roller on said axially displaceable rod engaging the periphery of said cam; a driving shaft; means for actuating said driving shaft; and means for releasably coupling said driving shaft to said cam shaft.

9. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the combination. with an intermittently rotatable drum comprising means on the periphery of said drum adapted to retain a transfer thereon, automatic transfer feed mechanism associated with said drum, automatic transfer backing-removing mechanism, releasable supporting means for retaining ware to be decorated in frictional rotative engagement with the periphery of said drum, said backing-removing mechanism and waresupporting means being located at spaced positions around the periphery of said drum, means for actuating said backing-removing mechanism to remove the backing from the transfer on said drum, and means for intermittently rotating said aoea'me 15 drum so as to bring said transfer progressively into position for operation thereon by said back." ring-removing mechanism to remove the backing therefrom and then to bring said transfer into engagement with the rotating Ware for withdrawal thereby from the drum.

10. In apparatus for applying transfers to glass, ceramic and other ware to be decorated, the combination with an intermittently rotatable drum comprising means on the periphery of said drum adapted to retain a transfer thereon, automatic transfer feed mechanism associated with said drum, automatic transferbacking-removing mechanism, releasable supporting means for retainin ware to be decorated in frictional rotative engagement with the periphery of said drum, said baeking-removing mechanism and ware-supporting means being located at spaced positions around the periphery of said drum, means for actuating said backing-removing 16 mechanism to remove the backing from the transfer on said drum, and means for intermittently rotating said drum so as to bring said transfer progressively into position for operation thereon by said backing-removing mechanism to remove the backing therefrom and then to bring said transfer into engagement with the rotating ware for withdrawal thereby from the drum, and common driving means for actuating said drum rotating and backing-removing means in required sequence.

KENNETH GODFREY ALDRIDGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2 305,553 Orswell Dec. 15, 1942 2,353,352 Muir July 11, 1944 2,441,164 Miller May 11, 1948 2,546,360 Farrow et a1. Mar. 27, 1951 

